Traction-vehicle.



F. W. MITCHELL.-

TRACTION VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. i913.

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APPLlcATloN man Nov, 29. |913.

Patented Aug. 14,1917.

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3mm/who@ UNITED STATES PATENT GFICE.

FREDERICK W. MITCHELL, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN.

TRACTION-VEI-IICIJE.

Application led November 29, 1913.

T0 all' 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WV. MITCH- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ludington, in the county of Mason and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traction vehicles having for its primary object to associate a fifth wheel with both the front and rear axle permitting either end of the vehicle to be the steering end, thereby eliminating the necessity of turning the vehicle when a limited lamount of space is had. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a suitable locking mechanism which is applicable to either of the fifth wheels, so that the unlocked axle may be used as the steering axle in the ordinary manner that front axles of vehicles are n-ow operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple of construction, comprises comparatively few parts which may be readily associated for performing the desired function and are durable s-o as to withstand the strain exerted thereon.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention` will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention;-

F ig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2*2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my improved device;

Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged fragmentary view of the device showing the operating mechanism and the operating rods associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking shoes used in the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. l.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Serial No. 803,809.

traction vehicle S is provided which is of the ordinary type comprising a pair of axles 9 eaoh of which has mounted thereon wheels l0, said axles being connected through the medium of a reach ll the reach in the present instance being provided with a metallic sleeve or casing l2.

Detachably engaged with each of the axles 9 is a fifth wheel 13 which is provided with straps 14e by which said wheel 13 is retained in spaced relation to the axle and secured thereto through the medium of bolts 15, said reach ll being interposed between the axle and the fifth wheel 13 as shown to advantage in Fig. 3 and having the bolsters 16 pivotally engaged therewith through the medium of a pin 17, each of said fifth wheels 13 having extending therefrom an ear 18 which is provided with an aperture 19 by which the fifth wheel is placed in connection with a steering mechanism. Each of the wheels 13 in the present instance is tubular and is provided on the periphery thereof with rigid jaws 20 which are reinforced by webs 20 as it is well known that undue pressure will at times be exerted thereon by the jamming of the locking member thereinto.

F ixedly carried on the reach ll is a supporting structure 2l comprising in the present instance a plate which is secured by bolts or the like to said reach ll and being provided on the upper face thereof with a guide strap 22 the opposite ends of the latter being detachably engaged with the upper face of said plate 2l so as to limit the movement of the lever 23, said lever having one end 24 thereof enlarged and pivoted to said plate 2l while the opposite end thereof is slightly reduced so as. to facilitate the actuation thereof, said reduced end extending beyond the plate 21.v The lever 23 has extending laterally therefrom adjacent its pivoted end24 .a pair of lugs 25 which are provided with apertures through which are engaged pivot pins 26 said pins being engaged through the eyes 27 of the operating rods 2S each of said rods having one end thereof inl engagement with one of the pins 26 as previously pointed out and the opposite end thereof in engagement withone of the locking members 29. The eyes 27 are held from` accidental displacement on the pins 26 by aclamp plate 30 the latter being provided with apertures alining with the apertures in the lugs 25 and engaging with the pivot pins 26.

Each of the locking members 29 is slidably engaged on the reach 11 andmore specically on the casing 12 thereof, said members being formed from a metallic plate having a portion 31 thereof formed so as to provide a rectangular collar which is slidably engageid on said casing 12 a portion 32 being extended from said collar 31 which is provided with an aperture33 alining with an aperture 341 in the collar 31, said apertures being engaged by a pin 35 which engages in a looped eye formed on the outer end of each of said operating rods 28 so as to allow for a slight pivotal movement between said rods 28 and said locking members 29 when the locking end 36 thereof are thrown into engagement with the aws 20 of the fth wheels 13, said locking ends 36 having one face thereof lying in the plane with the upper face of said portion 32 as advantageously illust-rated in Fig. 5.

in operation we will assume that the device is in a position as shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2. ln this instance the wheels to the right of the drawing in these figures are the forward and steering wheels while the rear wheels are prevented from lateral movement as is the case with the ordinary rear wheels now in use. Should it be desired to lock the front axle from movement pressure is exerted on the lever 23 toward said front axle thereby causing the locking end 36 of the member 29 to be engaged between the jaws of the front fifth wheel 13 and releasing the rear locking member from its engagement thereby reversing the steering end of the vehicle. It is therefore seen that the device is especially adapted for use on traction vehicles or the like where very often a a limited amount of space is had which as is well known in this art requires a great deal of maneuvering in backing the vehicle, etc., in order to subsequently turn the same as desired.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A traction vehicle including fth wheels mounted on each of the axles of the vehicle for steering the latter from either end, a reach extending the length of the vehicle, jaws formed on each of said fifth wheels, members embracing said reach and longitudinally slidable thereon to lock one of said jaws at a time, and a horizontally movable lever mounted on said reach to shift said members in unison.

2. A traction vehicle including fifth wheels mounted on each of the axles of the vehicle for steering the latter from either end, a reach extending the length of the vehicle, jaws formed on the periphery of each of the fifth wheels, members embracing said reach and longitudinally slidable thereon, said members having extensions for engagement with said jaws to lock one of the latter at a time, and a horizontal movable lever mounted on said reach to shift said members in unison.

3. In a traction vehicle having front and rear axles, a reach bar therebetween to which said axles are pivoted, a fifth wheel fixed on each of the axles of the vehicle for steering the latter from either end, a aw formed on each of said iifth wheels and opening toward each other, a locking mechanism carried on the reach of said vehicle comprising a pair of sliding members alternately movable into and out of engagement with said jaws, a plate ixedly mounted on said reach, a lever pivoted on said plate and extending to one side of the vehicle, connections between said lever and the sliding members for alternately engaging said members with the jaws and disengaging them therefrom.

4. In a traction vehicle having front and rear axles, a reach bar therebetween to which said axles are pivoted, a fifth wheel bolted to each of said axles of the vehicle for steering the latter from either end, a aw projecting horizontally from the inner side of each of said fifth wheels and opening toward each other, a pair of sliding members movable longitudinally on said reach, each sliding member having a projecting arm for engaging one of said jaws and locking said fifth wheel against rotation, a plate fixed upon said reach, a lever pivoted on said plate and extending to one side of the vehicle, and. a connecting link between said len ver and each of said sliding members for the purpose of simultaneously locking one of said fifth wheels from turning and disconnect the other to permit free rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERCK WV. MITCHELL. lllitnesses:

C. C. FISHER, LILLAs L. FISHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

